WALES look set to come up against one of the most controversial figures in South African rugby in next month’s showdown between the world and European champions.

With star flanker Schalk Burger now ruled out of the two-match series, his Stormers team-mate Luke Watson is the front-runner to step into the Springboks back row for the first Test in Bloemfontein on June 7.

Watson, 24, is an international rookie with just one cap to his name, but has been the subject of plenty of headline-grabbing stories in his homeland, having become something of a political cause celebre.

Last summer, he was added to the Springboks squad against the wishes of then coach Jake White and went on to make his Test debut against Samoa.

White had previously refused to pick the Port Elizabeth-born loose forward, even though he had been named as South Africa's Super 14 player of the year in 2006.

Many of Watson’s supporters claimed this non-selection was due to personal differences with the coach, while some also questioned whether his family connections were counting against him.

His father, Daniel “Cheeky” Watson, is a former anti-apartheid activist who alienated himself from the South African rugby establishment by playing club rugby in the black townships of Eastern Province at a time when this was illegal under apartheid legislation.

However, White always insisted the issue was far more straightforward.

He once said of Watson: “I don’t think he’s a good rugby player. He is most overrated.”

White also emphasised the need for tall loose forwards who could add extra line-out options and, at just 6ft, Watson didn’t fit the bill.

In turn, the outspoken flanker – who has skippered his country at schools, U9 and U21 level as well as captaining Western Province and the Stormers – once accused White of a “lack of integrity”.

But now that World Cup winner White has been replaced by Pieter de Villiers – South Africa’s first black coach – Watson’s prospects look much brighter.

Giving his take on the size issue, de Villiers said: “A small, talented guy will always be better than a big, untalented guy, and a big, talented guy is better than a small, talented guy. I will select the best player for the job.”

That could now well be the in-form Watson, below, with blond bombshell Burger out of the equation, along with fellow World Cup flanker Wikus van Heerden.

The 37-cap Burger was named in the Springboks’ training squad last weekend, but has now accepted he has no chance of facing Wales due to the knee ligament injury he picked up last month.

“It looks like I’m going to be out for another month,” said the powerhouse Stormers flanker.

Injuries have also deprived the Boks of the services of two more members of their World Cup winning team for both Tests against Wales, in Jacques Fourie and Fourie du Preez.

Centre Fourie will be out for a month with a medial ligament tear to his elbow, while outstanding scrum-half du Preez faced six weeks on the sidelines with a broken hand.

Saracens-bound loose forward van Heerden is unavailable for the first Test following knee surgery. with uncapped Cheetahs youngster Duane Vermeulen (neck disc) yet another flanker on the crocked list.